BJP leader Dilip Ghosh on Friday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of adopting authoritarian measures as the Assembly elections draw closer, alleging that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) is frustrated and fearful of losing ground.

“Elections are approaching in Bengal and Mamata Banerjee’s government is getting frustrated. That is why they are turning authoritarian. Anyone who raises their voice or protests is suppressed with force. They are spreading fear not only among opposition workers but also among the people,” Ghosh told reporters.

His remarks came a day after a stormy session in the West Bengal Assembly, where five BJP MLAs were suspended and CM Mamata Banerjee launched a fierce attack on the saffron party. “BJP is a party of vote thieves, full of corruption, anti-Bengali and deceptive. They are a national disgrace, and I condemn them strongly,” the Chief Minister had declared in the House.

Reacting to the ongoing controversy over the film The Bengal Files, Ghosh said, “This film is for the people of Bengal, but they won’t even get to watch it. The truth is visible everywhere — be it the RG Kar case, the law college case, or rising crimes against women. People are living through what the film portrays, and they are desperate for change.”

Ghosh also took a dig at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav for his comments on the NDA in Bihar. “Tejashwi should first fix his own party’s image. Depending on Rahul Gandhi won’t help. Rahul is struggling to save Congress and manage 2-4 seats in Bihar — that itself will be difficult. Instead of worrying about NDA, Tejashwi should worry about his own family and party,” he added.